A’s minor league coach banned for throwing game

A’s minor league hitting instructor Todd Steverson probably thought he was doing the right thing when he asked his pitchers to balk three times in the 17th and 18th innings of the Stockton Ports’ game against the Modesto Nuts.

But, as a result, he’ll be banned from the California League for an entire year.

Steverson, who was filling in for the usual manager, was trying to bring the June 24 game to an end after running out of pitchers in extra innings. He was concerned that the two position players he brought in to pitch would be injured, so he instructed them to intentionally balk.

Yesterday, the California League announced it was suspending Steverson and fining him an undisclosed amount. California League president Charlie Blaney issued the following statement:

“While Stockton Interim Manager Todd Steverson’s intent was to protect his players from injury … he made an error in judgment by instructing his pitcher to advance 3 base runners via intentional balk for the purpose of expediting the end of the game … Mr. Steverson’s decision to advance the opposing team’s base runners into scoring position compromised the integrity of the game, which is paramount in this great game of ours.”